Andrew Shaxson (AS)

Derek Cleaver (DC)

John Rennie  (JR)

Paul Millmore  (Pm)

Ben Perkins  (BP)

Derek Pitter (DP)

John Godfrey  (JG)

Sue Coles  (SC)

Craig Thomas  (CT)

Glynn Jones (GJ)

Kuljit Randhawa (KR)

David Ashcroft  (DA)

James Sharpe (JS)

Malcolm Walford (MW)

David Brookshaw (DB)

Janyis Hyatt (JH)

Nigel Sloane (NS)

Minutes

Action

1

Introductions

The Forum Members were introduced to David Brookshaw, the appointed Brighton & Hove cross-forum representative, and Keith Tyrell, the South Downs Access Forum Officer. Keith will start on Monday, 7^th January, 2004.

2

Elections

The elections for Chair and Vice Chair were carried out by secret ballot. Three names were put forward for the Chair, with one withdrawal on the day. Each candidate gave a three minute verbal presentation supporting their candidacy. Glynn Jones won the ballot and was elected Chair.

Two people stood for the Vice Chair and the ballot was won by Paul Millmore.

3

Membership

NR brought the members up to date with the current position on SDAF membership. The Diana Jones, paragliding representative regretfully resigned as she felt the forum was not as relevant to her work as she had anticipated. This leaves a spare space on the SDAF. After some discussion about gaps in representation, the members chose Sue Montila, a horse rider (Hampshire) as the new full member and welcomed Colin Bennett (Brighton and Hove) representing disabled access as an observer. Sue is to be invited to attend the next forum meeting. The lack of representation from the motorised vehicle use is an acknowledged omission that the SDAF seeks to remedy in the future.

As several of the forum members had cross cutting interests, AS requested that the membership list be in the form of a single list of people rather than divided up into land owner/manager, users and other. Members agreed to this and to having their email addresses distributed amongst themselves.

NR

NR

4

Terms of Reference

Two sets of Terms of Reference for the South Downs Access Forum (SDAF)  were up for discussion. An original set put together and agreed by the SDAF Steering Group and discussed with the Forum, and a second set showing modifications proposed by the West Sussex Access Forum Chair and county solicitors. After some constructive discussion on issues of the sub forum nature of the SDAF, ex-officio role for the mother forums Chair’s, whether the Forum should be held in public and whether the Forum could give advice directly to Sussex Downs Conservation Board and East Hampshire Joint Advisor Committee, the Members almost uniformly opted to retain the original Terms of Reference because it most accurately reflected their view of the Forum’s work.

In addition, the cross forum representatives were requested to seek the advice of the mother forms on three specific issues within the Terms of Reference :

·      whether the Forum should be held in public.

·      whether Forum should be able to directly advise the Sussex Downs Conservation Board and East Hampshire Joint Advisor Committee

·      additional equestrian member for the Forum

SDAF members themselves are happy for their advice to go directly to Sussex Downs Conservation Board and East Hampshire Joint Advisor Committee.

SC, NS, LC, DB

5

Work Plan

The work programme was presented with a brief explanation as to what each of the items entailed. Members discussed merits of each element and advised on which items should be given priority. The three most important items were identified as the open access maps, land management of open access land and the Rights of Way Improvement Plans. One particular area of concern was the creation of rights of way to new open access land.

The open access maps sparked concern as to how information would be disseminated to the public, especially about the opening up of the land, appropriate land management (litter, new by-laws, signage, furniture) and any restrictions. This was considered a valuable area of work for the forum. Also, it was recognised that there was no common land currently mapped for East Sussex because their register had been lost in a fire. The new common land register had yet to be signed off and alterations to the provisional map to accommodate the new officially registered common land may be consulted on before being put on the final maps. A copy of the provisional access maps can be found on the Countryside Agency web site at

In the discussion on the management of public expectations of open access land it was acknowledged the SDAF members had an important role to play in disseminating information through their current communication channels.  This includes press releases from SDCB, EHJAC and the local authorities

Discussion on Rights of Way Improvement Plans raised the issues of overlap between the AONB Strategic Access Plan and the local authority Rights of Way Improvement Plans for the area of the South Downs. NR said talks had started with the local authorities as to how this might be resolved. BP suggested the forum members could usefully identify new linear and circular footpaths and gaps in the network for these plans under Part 1. PB pointed out that the plans will consider other aspects of access like open access, land opened to offset inheritance tax, stewardship land, ESA and permissive access and that the SDAF should consider these in its approach too. NS commented that in West Sussex County Council is taking a top down - bottom up approach to the Rights of Way Improvement Plan. GJ proposed NR continued to work with the local authorities to find a suitable way for the SDAF to feed up into the their RoWIPs. The establishment of a specific RoWIP working group was proposed by SC and agreed by the forum.

The members would like to comment on future by-laws in the South Downs. They called for a legal framework in which to operate, consistency between current and future by-laws and further information about how by-laws would be enforced.

The cross forum representatives were asked to consult with the mother forums to consider and comment on the proposed work programme.

BP asked if the SDAF was clear to proceed with the work programme. NR confirmed  the SDAF should have had feedback on the work programme from all the LAFs by the next SDAF meeting. The intention is to take on board LAF comments and hence to move forward with the programme.

All

NR

All

NR

SC, NS, LC, DB

6

Budget

At the first informal SDAF meeting NR agreed to bring the budget for the members to view. The members asked how they would be able to claim their travel costs that are to be paid for through the budget. NR said a travel expense claim form would be available at the next meeting and that in the mean time members should send their travel expense claims directly to her at Sussex Downs Conservation Board in Ford.

JG requested that it be noted in the minutes that Brighton and Hove Access Forum were not providing any funding for the forum.

NR

NR

7

Observers

NR asked the members who they would like to have as observers to the forum. Members generally agreed they were happy with the observers they had and that the chair and, in his absence the vice-chair, could invite other observers (e.g. Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, English Heritage) to meetings as and when appropriate. NR to produce list of observers.

NR

8

Perspectives on open access

This item was postponed until the next meeting because David Taylor, who had kindly agreed to give the land owner perspective, was absent.

9

Agenda items for next meeting

- Perspectives on open access

- Final maps (if ready)– including issues of access to and from sites. NS volunteered to bring maps when available

- Rights of Way Improvement Plans – including report on progress of four local authorities

-        

DT & BP

NS

NR

10

Date for next meetings

The forum agreed the meeting dates for a year in advance. The dates are to fall shortly after the LAFs have had their meetings so LAF advice can be filtered across. The dates agreed were :

Friday 13^th February  10.00am     Ford

Friday 30^th April        10.00am     Ford

Thursday 15^th July     10.00am

Friday 29^th October   10.00am

Tuesday 7^th December  19.00pm  (AGM)

11

AOB

The members would like to receive the mother forums’ minutes

RS to send NR copy of the West Sussex Rights of Way Improvement Plan questionnaire and NR to distribute amongst members

DA raised the issue as to what kind of liability land owners faced when the general public used the new open access land. GJ said land owner liability was less for open access than under trespass. In addition, there is information available on the DEFRA website @ http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/landaccess/consultation.pdf and http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/consult/restrictions/

NR

NR